NOTE This Wiki applies only to USB capable devices. Also, if using any flash-based media (SD, Thumb drives, SSD etc., the EXT2 filesystem format is advised due to the fact that EXT3 uses Journaling. EXT2 performs fewer writes than EXT3 since it does not need to write to the journal. As the major aging factor of a flash chip is the number of erase cycles, and as those happen frequently on writes, this increases the life span of the solid-state device. Using EXT2 on self powered HDD's is also advisable as it will increase the Read/Write speeds. However, it is important to note that using EXT2, without a U.P.S, or other consistent PSU, can cause the file-structure to become corrupted if power is lost or the drive is unmounted improperly!

Introduction:

Due to the very nature of DD-WRT, its infrastructure, and the routers they support, one must use a Linux file format in order to take full advantage of the thousands of installable packages that allow for incredible user control and add excellent flexibility to the router.

Optware is a highly useful system, especially for those with routers capable of USB external storage support.

This page will illustrate, in the highest detail possible, how to correctly and painlessly perform the steps required to Format and Partition your External storage device for use with Optware and other means.

If you own a USB capable router, there should be no excuse not to follow this guide as it will open up more doors than you can imagine!

Metaphorical example: You buy a Chevy Silverado 3500HD dually with a Turbo diesel engine. However you don't install the towing package. Well, why the hell did you buy it in the first place? Hook up that towing package and get what you paid for!

If you are already a Linux OS user, great, as it will be slightly less of a procedure. See the preferred Linux method below For Windows users, there are several things you need to prepare before attempting this:

1. Download GParted, which is a free, user friendly and disk bootable Linux distribution OS tool. You MUST have this to perform the following as Windows does not have the capability of formatting Linux filesystems.

2. Once downloaded you will need to burn the image to a CD-R using a program like Nero.

3. Once the operation is complete, re-insert the disk and reboot Windows. Once your computer reboots, the bootdisk will initialize and GParted will start up. If it doesn't, you need to make sure your PC's BIOS settings dictate that the boot sequence starts with your CD-ROM drive as the first device.

4. Once GParted loads, select your language. Sit back and wait for it to load.

5. Once in GParted, connect the drive you wish to Format and Partition.

6. Right-Click the drive icon and select "Unmount."

7. Now you will need to prepare the drive and format/partition it. The following images illustrate the procedure (UPDATE the Minimum size for Optware should be 512MB) Also the JFFS partition is NOT needed for USB users, only MMC users. If you add the JFFS partition to your USB device and post in the forums regarding an issue, you will not be answered!!!!:

8a. Click Device and select Create Partition Table

8b. Right click the "Unallocated Space and select New. Continue this procedure for each Partition you create

The partition size value for the following Data partition should be left alone, as this is the remaining space on the disk:

You're finished! Now all that's left to do is plug the drive into your router and enable the modules you need.

NOTE The ?'s are the drive letters Linux assigns. You will need to determine which one is correct by issuing the command fdisk -l. You will be looking for the disk you want to format (It will almost be towards the end of the print-out). Here is an example of what it should look like:

It's important to understand everyone's disk drive configuration will be different. If your drive is 40 GB or smaller, use the smaller set of partition sizes below. If your drive is over 40 GB, you can use the larger set of partition sizes.

Disk 40 GB or less

/opt 512 megabytes

swap 32 megabytes

/jffs 128 megabytes

data remainder of the disk

Disk greater than 40 GB

/opt 512 megabytes

swap 64 megabytes

/jffs 256 megabytes

data remainder of the disk

JFFS partition is NOT needed for USB users, only MMC users.

NOTE For smaller storage devices such as SD/MMC and flash drives, the minimum partition size for /opt should be 384MB

Also the /jffs partition is not necessary if you are only installing this Optware and are a USB user.

Code: (the ? are the drive letters (c,d,e etc.) so make sure you choose the correct one!) The bold texts are the commands

Now your disk drive is partitioned and formatted for Linux! If you are a windows user, you can either proceed (recommended) using Linux (Ubuntu comes with FireFox already installed) or shut down the Linux distro you used, and make sure the boot disk pops out, as you wll need to get back to windows.

This tutorial has some confusing parts to it. Section 8 of the Windows method needs to be made more precise. It should be stated if the optware, swap, and data are all needed, how to pick the proper sizes for each, and if JFFs should not be used with this tutorial, the text that accompanies the pictures need to be changed to reflect this.